Beatriss
left her son with the Emperor and with her other children, moved into her
newly-completed fortress in the Happy Valley.
Friends new and old gathered around her, pledging to help protect her
idyllic dominion. These included Naron
and Ju-Mei, Bangqiu and Kafka.
Bahen—their unexpected ally in defeating Red Nar’s band—arrived with a
company of 20 riders and began organizing the people of Happy Valley, selecting
and arming a garrison of 100 foot soldiers.
The Emperor sent a bodyguard of 20 monks. Tetsukichi settled in with his family and
henchman. Prince Slash and Sir Crowler
were welcomed as guests and soon proved themselves valuable companions.
One day
Prince Slash was leading a company of foot soldiers in a patrol on far side of
the western ridge. Spotting smoke above
the treetops, they went closer and found a large company of dragon people, led
by a huge reptilian-headed monster.
Prince Slash raced back to the fortress to raise the alarm and the
dragon people followed in close pursuit.
The people
of Happy Valley took refuge inside the fortress but the dragon people followed
close behind and the gates could not be closed.
Beatriss, Tetsukichi, Naron, and Bahen drove them back and pursued them
into the field in front of the fortress.
The Lizard Lord and his toughest soldiers met them in battle, knocking
Beatriss from her horse and scattering her bodyguard. Naron’s soldiers threw down their spears and
ran for the forest. Tetsukichi and Bahen
were also defeated. The giant lizardman
charged into the fortress, his minions coming after him.
Inside the
fortress, the defenders had organized.
Bangqiu used his magic to break the dragon people’s charge. Al-Fitar led a countercharge. Many people of the dragon people retreated
and suddenly the Lizard Lord and his company were greatly outnumbered. Kafka and Bayan surrounded them and slowly
exhausted them. The Happy Valley
soldiers rallied and finally killed the Lizard Lord; the dragon people were
routed.
